MARKET MUSINGS

Unless you’re living on an island, sipping margaritas, you know the holiday season is upon us. Only 58 shopping days until Christmas!

I decided to try something new this year and signed up to have a table at the Red Mitten Market, which is held every year at the Canby Grange from October through December. Excited to showcase my books for the first time at this event, I decorated my table with other vendors’ holiday craft items. Currently, I’m displaying Halloween décor.

I’m not required to “man” my table daily, but I love meeting potential readers and talking to people in general. And don’t tell my husband, but I’m not driven by money. However, I enjoy telling shoppers about my writing journey and how my two book series originated.

On my first day at the market, several readers stopped by to visit, and as an added bonus, I sold books and book bundles. Of course, I’m thrilled to have new readers, but I’ve also kept notes about the benefits of participating in the Red Mitten Market.

First, and I know you Ladies already know this, but I’m thankful I’ve taken the time to publish in all formats: Paperbacks, eBooks, and Audible.

The bonus to selling paperbacks is knowing someone is holding my “work of art” in their hands, turning pages, and enjoying the journey from beginning to end. I like to imagine their reaction to learning whether Clara gets justice or revenge against Damian. And did they laugh aloud when Busy asks Sheriff Wyatt Stone, “What’s a girl gotta do to spend the night—” I wonder, too, if they fall asleep with the book open on their chest.

I’m probably most grateful for ensuring my books are available for Kindles and eReaders. The best response to potential readers who say, “I only read on my Kindle.”—is—“Oh, perfect, because all my books are available as eBooks.” Then, I send them off with a handful of bookmarks so they remember to buy the eBooks. As a former “book collector,” I respect the need to downsize and love that I might still get my books in the hands of an electronics-only customer.

It was a difficult journey, but I managed to get the first book in each of my series published as an audiobook. Since I’ve had to return to square one on this project, I’m now struggling with whether to narrate my books or tackle the daunting task of finding a new narrator. In an effort to see the bright side, I enjoy being able to say that I now have these books in audiobook format.

Each time I “man” my table, I’ve had an opportunity to speak with someone who has enriched me beyond monetary compensation. One woman who loved the premise of my Stoneybrook Mystery Series and bought “Redneck Ranch” shared with me that her niece narrates audiobooks. I jotted down the niece’s name, and as an added bonus, she lives near me in Salem, Oregon.

Another woman asked how I liked participating in the Red Mitten Market. I explained it was my first time, but so far, so good. The woman then informed me that she is a six-figure author, so she doesn’t need to have her books at a market. I bristled at her remark but smiled and congratulated her. Did I mention I’m not driven by money? She continued sharing about her success, and I continued to smile and nod. Then she asked if I’d ever heard of Matthew J Holmes and his Facebook Marketing Program. Needless to say, I had not heard of this platform, but I did some research and plan to put Mr. Holmes’s marketing strategy to work next year.

You may recall my blog, “Scritch, Scratch, Feedback,” from a few months ago, which was inspired by my love of country music. I couldn’t let go of a song idea I had, and I finally finished the lyrics. One problem, though, is that I can’t sing or play any music. Undaunted, I considered teaching myself how to play guitar. Because who needs sleep? Today, I had a young lady ask about my books, and after my usual spiel, she said she understood the creative process because she likes to write songs. What?!? After I told her I’d written a song, she said, “Send me the lyrics, and I’ll put music to them.”

As you all know, I lost my son Derrick seven and a half years ago … Being the parent of a deceased child is a difficult burden to bear, and I’m sorry to share that I’ve met many parents who belong to this club. I wanted to make their tragedy more bearable by offering comfort to these moms and dads. When I discovered a pair of white metal wings on an Amazon shopping spree, they brought me a sense of peace. Now, I give these wings to other parents with a poem about not judging a grieving parent.

One of the women who stopped to ask about my books had recently lost her granddaughter to suicide. She said that she was heartbroken and felt her burden doubly because her son was also grieving the loss of his daughter. I shared my story with her, and we plan to have coffee soon so I can give her a set of White Wings and the poem for her son.

As I write this blog post, I’m saddened by the news that my younger sister, Lori, is dying. She has pulmonary fibrosis, and her pulmonologist says she has three to six months. Dying is a messy business, and I’m trying to be there for my sister and distract her from the inevitable. I didn’t know that when I wrote a scene about my villain in “Willow’s Woods,” accepting Jesus Christ as his Savior, I would be helping Lori do the same. We were raised in a Christian family, but she lost her way through the years.

So, participating in the Red Mitten Market for the first time has been a gratifying experience so far. Though I’ve sold books and made some money, the real reward has been the people I’ve interacted with, the real-life stories we’ve shared, and the tidbits I’ve gleaned from these fabulously casual conversations.

Happy Holiday Season, Ladies of Mystery!